Name: Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 3 h 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour (360 g); ½ teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (225 g); ½ cup light brown sugar (100 g); ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g); 1 large egg, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon red food coloring; ½ teaspoon green food coloring; ½ cup holiday sprinkles

Imagine biting into a buttery, soft cookie that’s bursting with cheerful red, green, and white swirls—how perfect is that for the holidays? The Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe makes these charming treats a breeze to bake, and they add such fun and color to your cookie platter.

A pile of round cookies with three spiral layers in red, white, and green colors, arranged closely on a white plate. Each cookie's outer edge is decorated with small red, green, and white round sprinkles. The cookies have a smooth, slightly textured surface with clear, even swirls. Underneath the plate is a white marbled surface, and a green and white checkered cloth is softly folded in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made these cookies year after year, and what really gets me is how festive they look without a ton of fuss. It's kind of magic how simple ingredients come together into something so visually striking—and everyone always asks for the recipe!

Easy to make: The dough is straightforward and friendly for even beginner bakers.
Vibrant colors: The red, green, and white layers create an eye-catching swirl.
Great for gifting: These cookies look beautiful in holiday tins or gift bags.
Customizable: You can switch up colors or sprinkles to suit your style or dietary needs.

The image shows a close-up of round swirl cookies arranged closely together on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has three visible layers: a bright green inner spiral, a thin beige middle spiral, and a thicker red outer spiral. The edges of the cookies are covered with red sugar and decorated with small white, green, and red sprinkles, giving a festive look. The texture of the cookies looks soft and slightly grainy from the sugar coating. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a vital role to get those cookies just right—soft yet sturdy enough to hold that swirl pattern. Picking the freshest butter and good-quality vanilla really makes these cookies shine.

Flat lay of a small mound of all purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small pile of fine white baking powder next to a pinch of coarse salt on a white ceramic dish, a block of unsalted butter with a smooth surface on a white ceramic square plate, a small heap of light brown sugar and a separate small mound of granulated sugar both on simple white ceramic bowls, one large whole brown egg with a clean shell placed on a white ceramic saucer, a small white bowl filled with clear vanilla extract, two small white bowls each containing vibrant red and green food coloring liquids, and a scattering of colorful holiday sprinkles artfully arranged on a white ceramic plate, all ingredients fresh and natural, perfectly balanced and symmetrical, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All purpose flour: The base that gives these cookies structure without being too dense.
Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise gently, making them delightfully tender.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
Unsalted butter: I always use room temperature butter for easier mixing and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Light brown sugar: Adds a hint of caramel and moisture.
Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with that slight crisp edge.
Egg: Binds everything together, adding richness.
Pure vanilla extract: The secret flavor booster that turns this recipe from good to unforgettable.
Red and green food coloring: Use gel colors if you can—they’re more vibrant and won’t thin your dough.
Holiday sprinkles: Adds a festive, fun crunch and really dresses up the cookie edges.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how this recipe lets you have fun with the colors and sprinkles, so I often tweak it to match different themes or flavors. You can definitely make it your own, and it still turns out fantastic every time.

Variation: Once, I swapped classic green for a minty teal tint and added crushed candy canes on the outside roll, and it was a hit—so festive with a peppermint kick!
Vegan Option: Try using vegan butter and an egg substitute like flax eggs; I tested it with a friend, and it held up wonderfully.
Non-food Coloring Swap: Natural coloring from beet juice or spinach powder can give lovely shades without artificial dyes—perfect if you’re health-conscious.
Gluten-Free Twist: I recommend a blend designed for cookies, and chilling the dough well helps the shape hold.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix your dry ingredients

Start by combining your all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set this aside because you’ll need it in just a bit. This simple trio gives the cookies body and that perfect crumb.

Step 2: Cream the butter and sugars

In a separate bowl, beat your softened butter with brown and granulated sugar until nice and smooth—about 2 minutes on medium speed. This little step ensures your cookies are tender and melt-in-your-mouth. Add in the egg and vanilla, then mix until fully blended.

Step 3: Combine wet and dry

Stir your flour mixture into the butter mixture. Mix until just combined and no flour streaks remain. Don’t overmix—you want a soft dough that holds together well.

Step 4: Divide and color the dough

Split the dough into three equal parts. Add red food coloring to one, green to another, and leave the last plain (white). Knead each portion until the color is evenly mixed. This is where your pinwheel magic begins!

Step 5: Roll and layer your rectangles

On a lightly floured surface, roll each colored dough into a 12×8 inch rectangle. Layer them carefully: green on the bottom, white in the middle, and red on top. The order really helps show off the pinwheel when sliced.

Step 6: Roll up and coat in sprinkles

Starting at the long end, roll the layered dough into a tight log. Don’t worry if it stretches a little—that’s normal. Then roll the log in the holiday sprinkles—this adds a festive crackle and sparkle to the edges. Wrap your log tightly in plastic and pop it in the fridge for at least 3 hours to firm up.

Step 7: Slice and bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 160°C if fan-assisted). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice your chilled log into ¼ inch thick rounds. Place the cookies cut side down and bake for 8-10 minutes until they’re puffed and lightly golden around the edges. Around halfway through, I like to rotate my trays for even baking.

Step 8: Cool and enjoy

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This helps them firm up without breaking. These cookies keep beautifully and taste even better the next day once the flavors have settled.

Top Tip

From my many attempts with these festive pinwheel cookies, a few little things made a huge difference in the results. Here’s what I’ve learned so you can avoid the bumps and get perfect swirls every time.

Keep the dough chilled: This keeps the layers firm so the cookie slice holds its shape instead of smudging the colors.
Tight rolling: Rolling your dough log snugly helps the pinwheel stay neat and compact in the oven.
Rotate the trays halfway: I always turn my cookie sheets for even baking and perfectly golden edges.
Use gel food coloring: These give vibrant, concentrated colors without affecting dough texture.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with these—holiday sprinkles on the outside edge are enough sparkle for me. But if you want to be fancy, a light drizzle of white chocolate or a dusting of powdered sugar adds sweet elegance.

Side Dishes

These cookies are perfect alongside a big mug of hot cocoa or a cup of spiced eggnog. They also go wonderfully with a plate of assorted cheeses if you’re hosting a holiday gathering with savory treats.

Creative Ways to Present

Try fanning the pinwheel cookies in a circular arrangement on a festive platter for a wow factor. Or stack them in clear jars tied with red ribbons for perfect edible gifts. I once layered them between sheets of wax paper in a vintage tin—everyone loved unwrapping that.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After they’re completely cooled, I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and soft for up to a week—if they last that long! Sometimes you’ll find the sprinkles soften a bit, but that just makes them extra chewy in a good way.

Freezing

I freeze leftover dough logs wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil—this means you can slice and bake fresh cookies whenever you want. The dough keeps well in the freezer for up to 3 months, so holiday baking can be spread out.

Reheating

To freshen them up after storage, pop the cookies in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This revives the edges and melts the sprinkles just right without drying the cookie out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this recipe without artificial food coloring?

Absolutely! You can swap gel food colors with natural alternatives like beet juice for red or spinach powder for green. Just keep in mind natural colors might be less vibrant but still give a lovely effect.

How do I keep the pinwheel swirl from smudging?

Chilling the dough well before slicing and baking is key. The firm dough slices cleanly, which keeps the layers defined and the colors sharp after baking.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough logs and freeze them wrapped tightly for up to 3 months. Simply slice and bake straight from frozen—add a minute or two to the baking time if needed.

How many cookies does this recipe make?

This recipe yields about 3-4 dozen cookies depending on how thin you slice the dough log. Thicker slices will give you fewer, larger cookies.

Final Thoughts

These Festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies have been a beloved part of my holiday traditions for years. They’re not just pretty—they’re easy to make, fun to share, and bring that classic warm cookie feeling with a joyful twist. I hope you enjoy baking and sharing them as much as I do. Go ahead, give this recipe a try and add a swirl of happiness to your holidays!